Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair informed the meeting that it was the last Inner West Area Committee meeting for the Area Leader West North West who is moving to take up the Area Leader role in the East of the city. The Chair thanked the Area Leader for her support.

The Chair also informed the Area Committee that it was the last meeting for Councillor Taggart who will not be standing for Council at the forthcoming elections. The Chair thanked Councillor Taggart for his contributions to the Inner West Area.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2 To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3 If the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 or Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as appropriate, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-‘

There was no exempt information.

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made.

There were no apologies for absence.

In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee. This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

At this meeting there were some members of the public, Head Teachers, Assistant Principals and Principals and officers. No representations or questions were received at the Open Forum. However, the Chair gave permission for those present to join in the discussions on the items on the agenda if they so wished.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th February 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th February 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any matters arising from the minutes.

Minute 83 Employment & Skills

Head of Employment and Skills was to make contact with Premier Farnells in relation to recruiting locally.

Outcome

A meeting was arranged for 18^th March 2014 with officers from Employment and Skills and Farnells.

Members were pleased with the contributions from Farnells.

To receive the minutes of the Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 10^th February 2014.

The Committee considered the minutes of the Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 10^th February 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 20^th January 2014.

The minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 20^th January 2014 were considered by the Committee.

The Area Leader informed Members that the Chief Officer for Strategy and Commissioning had produced a report on Domestic Violence.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held 18^th February 2014 and the Bramley and Stanningley Combined Police PACT meeting held 30^th January 2014.

The Committee received the minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held on 18^th February 2014 and the Bramley and Stanningley Combined Police PACT meeting held on 30^th January 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services provides members with a comprehensive set of children’s information. The purpose of this cycle of reports is to understand if there are any local priorities that should also be regularly highlighted in these reports.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services was presented by the Chief Officer Partnership Development. The report provided Members with a comprehensive set of children’s information. The Chief Officer Partnership Development informed the Members that feedback from Area Committee’s showed that they wanted performance information against the obsessions. The Inner West Area Lead for Children has requested more detailed reports.

The Area Committee were informed that looked after children in the area had reduced by a larger proportion than the citywide reduction. Fewer children were entering care, and greater numbers were leaving as permanent options such as adoption were rising.

The Area Committee were also informed that the number of Children on a child protection plan had reduced by almost 50 per cent, the second highest reduction of all area committees.

The Chief Officer Partnership Development reported that detailed information on looked after children would be brought to a future committee meeting.

The Chief Officer Partnership Development told the Committee that there were still areas of concern including:

·  The attainment and achievement levels in the area;

·  The reduction in the take up of free school meals; and

·  Attendance levels remained a concern although attendance at secondary schools in the area had risen slightly.

It was noted that Members are due to attend an OBA workshop on school places and local engagement on Thursday 27^th March.

The Area Committee discussed all the issues raised in the report. Members also were of the view that it was important to ensure that the emphasis for performance was on the children attaining and achieving, not only on whether an establishment received a good Ofsted report.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee

• Lead Member for Children’s Services to discuss with the Area Head of Targeted Services additional local priorities to the Children’s Services Obsessions.

• Use the basic need workshop to provide local intelligence for consideration in school place planning and to instruct officers on improved methods of member engagement in school planning.

• Promote the use of the Igen centre on Eastgate and the Leeds Pathways website, to NEET young people and their families.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services provides Members with a brief overview of the statutory assessment outcomes at the end of the foundation stage at both a city wide and local level.  It presents the Area Committee with information on the composition of early years providers and local outcomes within the area with the aim of stimulating discussion and greater understanding on the notion of ‘readiness to learn’ as children move into key stage one from their foundation years experience.

The Director of Children’s Services report ‘Readiness for learning and the inequality gap at age 5’ was presented by the Early Years Foundation Stage Improvement Manager. The report provided a brief overview of the statutory assessment outcomes at the end of the foundation stage at both citywide and local level. The report presented information on the composition of early years providers and local outcomes within the area, providing Members with a greater understanding on the notion of ‘readiness to learn’ as children move into key stage one from their foundation years experience.

Members were informed that all early years providers, including schools, must adhere to the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. The framework sets standards for development, learning and care of children from birth to the age of five. There are two headline indicators when measuring performance in the early years: the percentage of children achieving a good level of development and the Department of Education term the ‘inequality gap in achievement’ indicator.

On the good level of development indicator, performance in Leeds is above or in line with all core cities and above or in line with eight out of ten statistical neighbour authorities.

The ‘inequality gap in achievement’ indicator showed Leeds as the lowest ranked authority in the country.

Members raised their concerns with the figures set out in the submitted report particularly in 3.4.3 Ethnicity highlighting children whose first language is not English.

Members were concerned that Leeds was ranked 152 out of 152 local authorities for the ‘inequality gap’ measure. Members were of the view that this issue could not be worked through in isolation, links between health, jobs, and housing and culture were required to ensure that performance improved.

Members of the Area Committee sought clarification on the points system used to calculate the indicators. The Area Committee requested that this issue was brought back to the Committee as an agenda item

The Area Committee also requested that an item in relation to the ‘inequality gap’ measure be brought to a future meeting to look at ways of improving the measure at a local level. The Members also requested that the Executive Member for Children’s Services to be engaged with the West Inner Area Committee on this issue.

RESOLVED- That the Area Committee:

·  Within the context of Priority 4 – support children to be ready for learning – discuss whether local priorities may be required to ensure children are ready for key stage one.

·  Use existing local partnerships to encourage and support collaborative working between schools and non-school settings to ensure children are meeting age related expectations at the end of the EYFS. Such learning communities will provide the opportunity to find local solutions to the readiness to learn issue.

·  Provide opportunities for partners across the foundation years to discuss and agree what ‘readiness for learning’ looks like at a local level. Do partners across health education and others recognise and acknowledge the significant period of growth, development and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services provides the Area Committee with an overview of the key issues in relation to changes to Ofsted inspections. The report also provides information on the Future Leaders programme.

The Director of Children’s Service report in relation to the Ofsted update and Future Leaders Bramley Pilot was presented to the Committee by the Head of Learning Improvement. The report provided Members with information in relation to changes to Ofsted inspections and an overview of the Future Leaders Bramley Pilot.

The Head of Learning Improvement presented Members with copies of the following papers:

·  Powerpoint presentation – OfSTED framework and Future Leaders bespoke programme in Bramley

·  Inner West Area Ofsted information

·  Inner West Area Committee learning outcomes

The Area Committee was informed that a new Ofsted framework was introduced in September 2012, with more changes introduced in January 2014. Members were provided with an overview of what inspectors focused on for their report, highlighting two of the areas as:

·  The behaviour and safety of pupils at the school;

·  The quality of leadership in, and management of, the school.

Members were informed that of the 18 schools within Inner West area, 2 secondary schools and 16 primary schools. Both secondary schools are sponsored academies.

1 school is rated ‘outstanding’, 13 schools in the area are ‘good’, 3 schools are rated as ‘Satisfactory / requires improvement’. Swallow Hill Community College is yet to be inspected but as a maintained school was last rated as ‘satisfactory’.

The Head of Learning Improvement informed the Area Committee about the Future Leaders programme aimed at teachers who want to become inspirational headteachers in challenging schools in an accelerated timeframe. Members were informed that the leadership development programme takes place over three years and places teachers into senior leadership positions in challenging schools. They are supported through training and development.

There are currently 350 Future Leaders working in 240 challenging secondary schools across the country. The programme is to be extended to include teachers in a primary setting.

There is a proposal for Future Leaders to work with the Bramley Cluster.

The Members welcomed the information and discussed issued raised within the report and the presentation. Members were informed that training would be given to Governors on the Ofsted Framework using the toolkit.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee received the presentation for its consideration, input and discussion.

The Report of the Director of Children’s Services provides Members of the Inner West area committee information on the Families First Leeds programme and to seek the support of the area committee in embedding the programme over the next 12 months.  The report outlines the purpose and structure of the programme, provides highlight data relating to Families First in the Inner West, and outlines a number of the challenges and successes of the programme.

The Interim Project Manager for Families First presented the report of the Director of Children’s Services. The report outlined the Families First programme, providing Members with highlight data related to Families First in the Inner West area, which outlined a number of the challenges and successes of the programme.

Members of the Area Committee were informed that at a national level the programme is known as Troubled Families. The programme uses a set criteria, and is built around delivering family support utilising a whole family approach.

The Area Committee was informed that Bramley has the highest number of families in the Families First Programme. The programme had been running for two years and had seen reduction in Anti-Social Behaviour and increased attendance rates in schools, the programme also supports adults into employment.

Members discussed the Families First programme requesting detailed information for the Armley and Bramley areas to be brought to a future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee:

·  Note the content of this report and recognise that the programme is in continuous development, with a good evidence base of impact.

·  Identify ways in which clusters and service, area committees and the Families First Programme can deliver further improvements, particularly in respect to supporting adults into employment.

·  Identify how the Area committee’s and Children’s Services can work towards sustainably embedding the Families First model the future and beyond the life of the progamme.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services provides an update on the current NEET position with an update on activity that is taking place to support young people who are Not in Education, Training or Employment (NEET) whilst recognising that the majority of young people do successfully access the educational, employment or training opportunities available to them. 

The report of the Director of Children’s Service was presented to the Area Committee by the Head of Service for Young People and Skills. The report provided an update on activity that is taking place across the City and locally to support the reduction of numbers of young people who are not in Education, Training or Employment (NEET). The report also provided an update on activities to improve access to employment opportunities across the area.

The Head of Service for Young People and Skills highlighted the following areas of the submitted report:

·  Post 16 pathways work with the two academies in the area

·  Youth Contract Support Programme to re-engage with 16 and 17 year olds working in partnership with IGEN

·  Use of the Character and Resilience Framework

·  Effective Transition Personal Advisors who provide support for vulnerable year 11 pupils giving support to young people to make choices and apply for post 16 options.

Discussion took place with Members on the areas highlighted in the submitted report.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee:

·  Continue to facilitate partners working together (including Leeds West Academy, Swallow Hill, IGEN, Colleges, LCC Services, Third Sector – ACES and Bramley clusters) on activities which can demonstrate impact and is based on mutual support and challenge;

·  Further promote and celebrate the success of young people from Inner West Leeds developing a positive and optimistic narrative about aspirations, behaviours and character;

·  Develop a destinations Team (made up of partners) working at an individual learner level to improve access to opportunities.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) is to advise the Inner West Area Committee of the balance of the Inner West Wellbeing revenue and capital budget 2013/14, new grant applications for the 2014/15 Wellbeing revenue allocation and propose a method for allocating the Youth Activities Fund in 2014/15.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) advised the Area Committee on the current position of the Inner West Wellbeing revenue and capital budget.

Members were informed that the Area Committee’s budget for 2014/15 is to be £123,670, this represented a reduction of just under 10% on the budget from last year. Including the carry forward, the budget for the new financial year would be £139,921 with the split being as follows:

·  Armley - £74,565

·  Bramley – 65,356

The Area Committee were asked to consider new Wellbeing grant applications for the 2014/15 financial year as listed at Appendix 3 of the submitted report. Members had reviewed the applications at Ward Member meetings and the General Purposes Sub Group.

The report also sought permission from the Area Committee to introduce an open application process for the 2014/15 Youth Activities Fund budget as outlined at 3.10 of the submitted report.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee:

·  Note the current balance of the 2013/14 Wellbeing revenue budget and the new revenue allocation.

·  Approved the following 2014/15 Wellbeing applications

·  Agree to introducing an open application process for the 2014/15 Youth Activities Fund as described at 3.10 of the submitted report.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) is to highlight the activities undertaken and achievements made in meeting the objectives set out in the Business Plan. It also requests Councillors to agree upon a new name for the Community Committee. 

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) provided the Members with a summary of the Area Committee’s Business Plan for the year 2013/14 and successes in meeting objectives.

Members were informed that objectives set out in the 2013/14 Business Plan were progressing well and that the Area Committee had achieved what it set to do.

The report asked Members to discuss and agree upon a name for the new Community Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee:

·  Recommended future direction for the next years Business Plan including;

o  Progressing the Business plan at the General Purposes Meeting

o  Incorporating reference to Premier Farnells under Best City for Business

·  Agree that the name for the Community Committee will be Armley and Bramley Community Committee

The report of the City Solicitor seeks the Area Committee’s formal approval of a meeting schedule for the 2014/2015 municipal year and also to agree a date for the Election of Chair Committee meeting prior to the Annual Council Meeting in June 2014. Members are also requested to give consideration as to whether they wish to continue with the Committee’s current meeting and venue arrangements or whether they would like to request any amendments to such arrangements.

The report of the City Solicitor requested Members considered the options detailed within the report and to agree the Committee’s proposed meeting schedule for the 2014/15 municipal year, so that it could be included in the Council diary for 2014/15.

The report also requested Members to consider as to whether they wished to change the Committee’s current meeting and venue arrangements or request amendments to such arrangements.

Members were requested to consider and agree the proposed date for the meeting on the 5th June 2014 scheduled to elect a Chair for the 2014/15 municipal year.

Members briefly discussed the issues within the report.

RESOLVED- That the Area Committee

•Agreed the dates and times as proposed:

o  Wednesday, 16th July 2014 at 5.00pm

o  Wednesday, 15th October 2014 at 5.00pm

o  Wednesday, 21st January 2015 at 5.00pm

o  Wednesday, 18th March 2015 at 5.00pm

·  The proposed date for the meeting to elect a Chair for the 2014/2015 municipal year is 4.00 p.m. on Thursday, 5th June 2014.

Leeds West Academy, Intake Lane, Rodley, Leeds LS13 1DQ